A THIEF cased the home of his former Provident agent before breaking in as she slept.

John Burgoyne, 45, was armed with a screwdriver when the homeowner caught him in the kitchen of the house in Old Bonhill.

The 45-year-old fled empty handed but was chased and caught in the garden of the property.

Last week Burgoyne appeared from custody at Dumbarton Sheriff Court and admitted breaking into the house with intent to steal, on November 25 last year.

The offence was committed while Burgoyne was on bail for another matter.

Fiscal depute Sarah Healing said in the days leading up to the offence, one of the victims had noticed Burgoyne and another man walking past his house on a number of occasions.

She said on the evening of November 25 the householders, a husband and wife, had been watching television and at some point had fallen asleep.

Ms Harding continued: “At around 2.30am, the complainer was wakened by noises coming from the kitchen. He made his way to the kitchen to investigate and observed two males dressed in dark clothing in his kitchen.

“Both males ran off but the complainer gave chase. One of the males was able to successfully escape but the shorter of the two was caught in the rear garden.

“The complainer took hold of this male by the jacket and pulled him onto the grass at which point he recognised the accused Burgoyne.

“He noticed Burgoyne was in possession of a screwdriver. He took this from him and threw into onto the grass.”

Police were contacted and when they arrived Burgoyne told them: “I’m in debt to drug dealers, that’s why I did it.”

Burgoyne refused to identify the other male who had been with him.

He denied specifically targeting the householder, a Provident agent of whom he was a former client.

Roddy Boag, defending, said Burgoyne had in the past suffered a drug problem and had successfully managed to overcome this.

He said his client had turned to drugs again following the deaths of his father and, more recently, his mother, and the habit had spiralled out of control.

The lawyer continued: “He accepts he was caught red-handed but he fully co-operated with the complainer, co-operated with police and co-operated when he came to court.

“He is supported by his family and is now drug free and will hopefully maintain that status on his release. He knows he is going to prison.”

Sheriff Simon Fraser said: “I take into account the fact that you plead reasonably quickly, and the fact you didn’t try to get away and to a certain extent you co-operated with police, but I also take account of the fact that you have an appalling record, that you refused to name your accomplice and the fact this was obviously planned.”